Late Friday night Lia stood alone in the dimly lit pharmacy. In the back corner, where the lights were brighter, she stared at the tall shelves that came out from the wall, shaped like a giant “E.” They held her large array of drugs. Tablets and capsules neatly alphabetized…topicals in their section…orals in theirs…children’s medications separate…the refrigerated items.
Her thoughts raced in every direction and then halted, too scattered to grasp their conclusion. It was incomprehensible. Dread flooded through her. She braced herself against a shelf.
The phone at her shoulder rang. She jumped.
Not now!
It rang again. Again. And again.
The machine picked up. Her message played, then, “Lia, it’s Cal. You there?”
She grabbed the phone. “Cal! Oh, Cal! Are you nearby?”
“On the sidewalk. What’s wrong?”
“Something…something’s not quite right. I think I need a policeman.”
There was a knock on the front door. “At your service.” He must be on his cell.
She hung up and rushed down the aisle. As the big brown teddy bear in uniform strode inside, she felt a rush of relief and clutched his arm.
“What’s wrong?”
Gulping for breath, she turned, motioning him to follow. They stepped through the half door that joined two counters. She went between the shelves and stared.
He touched her shoulder. “Lia?”
“I don’t understand it,” she whispered. “I think I’ve been robbed.”
“What happened?”
“I was just putting away the drugs that were delivered today. See this?” She reached up and tapped empty spots, and then she turned to face him. “Morphine and everything containing codeine.”
Cal’s eyebrows shot up.
“I had a full supply.”
“You’re sure—Of course you’re sure.” He studied the shelves up behind her shoulder, his peppermint gum-scented breath filling the tiny space between them. “Maybe they were accidentally moved out of place. Let’s search through all the drugs.”
“I already did that!”
“Well, we’ll do it again. And then probably again. Hey, don’t worry, China Doll.” He lightly touched her forehead and pressed away the frown.
It was when he brushed strands of hair back from her face that something shifted between them, as if a veil were yanked away, abruptly bringing into focus a nameless emotion. He stopped smoothing her hair. Surprise registered in his eyes, and she sensed hers reflected the same. Slowly he tilted his head downward until only a hair’s breadth separated them.
“Lia.” His lips moved the air against hers. “This is not a good idea.”
“Right,” she breathed, relief and disappointment weaving a tangled mess in her throat.
Cal straightened. “Let’s go, uh—” They bumped into each other, unable to turn simultaneously. “You go first.”
Wobbly legs carried her to the grouping of wicker chairs. She sank onto one.
He joined her. “Sorry about that. What was that?”
“I don’t know, but I completely forgot why you’re here.”
He laughed, tugging at his collar. “Keep the victims calm, I always say.”
“Well, you’re effective, Deputy.”
“Okay, down to business?”
“Okay.
The veil was back in place.
Cal pulled out his pen and notebook from his shirt pocket, trying to keep just superficial eye contact with Lia. A few moments ago he’d totally lost himself in those jet black pools that matched her unbelievably thick long hair. “You just discovered the drugs missing tonight?”
“Just before you called. What timing, huh?”
He nodded, scratching notes on his pad, avoiding the sight of her mouth. It was a perfectly shaped mouth, reminding him of a perky little bow tie. Small, full, velvety. She was trying to smile bravely, and his heart was thumping like crazy. Still. Thank God he had caught himself in time. Yes, thank You, God.
“Mr. Swanson picked up his morphine for his cancer pain on Tuesday. I ordered more, but I wasn’t completely out. I’m sure I would have noticed that Wednesday when I stocked. Or Thursday—Maybe not Thursday. There was the book club and…other things going on. Today was too busy to stock yesterday’s shipment.”
“Can you get your records together? Copies of order forms and so forth?”
He reached out and pulled her back down. “Not this minute.”
“Oh, what are they going to think when I order more and haven’t filled any prescriptions? It sometimes takes a week to get morphine delivered. There’s the DEA paperwork and—”
“Lia, it’s okay. Relax. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“Cal! Nobody’s broken in! No alarm in the middle of the night! No mess back there! No broken window!”
“But your door has been open during business hours.”
“This counter is never left unattended.”
“Who has access behind it?”
“Dot. Isabel on Mondays. Britte used to work, but not since school started. Addie was here Wednesday. Anne helps on Fridays. Chelsea, sometimes on Saturdays. Chloe has been helping more, but not with the drugs. She wouldn’t know anything.”
“Does she come in with friends?”
“They’re eight and nine years old! And when we’re not here in the store, I keep the door between it and the back room locked. Always.”
“With the key in the desk drawer beside it.”
“Right.”
“Which would be easy for anyone to find. Does Chloe know where you keep it?”
“Yes. Oh, no!” She slumped. “Chelsea baby-sat Thursday night. But she wouldn’t, would she?”
“Chelsea’s a good kid. Kind of artsy, like her mom. Some of her friends are on the fringe, but… Ask Chloe if Chelsea had any friends over that night. Who else has a key to the place?”
“Just Dot. She’s here full time and is the only one who really works with me on the prescriptions. Oh, Cal, I can’t blame this on Dot or Chelsea or any of my friends!”
“Don’t worry about conclusions yet. What else has been going on? Any unusual prescription requests?”
“No.”
“We could check prints, but there would be everybody’s around the store, and it’s doubtful we could match any without fingerprinting half the town. We’d have to shut you down—”
“Oh, please don’t shut me down. I don’t know how I’m going to make ends meet as it is!”
“All right. I’m going to take a quick look around the back room, and then I’ll file a report. Lia, I don’t want to frighten you, but if someone did waltz in here and swipe the drugs without being detected, they may try again.”
Her eyes widened.
He stood and squeezed her shoulder. “Just be on the lookout. You know I’m close by.”
She leaned her head against his arm. “Cal, why is it I need a cop so often in Valley Oaks?”
Saturday morning Cal stepped inside the Valley Oaks Pharmacy, the tinkling sound of the bell above the front door announcing his arrival. All heads turned toward him.
From the rear counter, Lia gave a little wave. He did a quick mental checkup. Last night when he— Whew! What had come over him? He’d never responded to a victim like that before. The china doll was a friend. She was also a great cook, enjoyable to be around, her demeanor and looks always keeping him just a little bit on edge…or off balance. That feeling that kept you…interested. Intriguing dark eyes, unlike any he’d encountered. Sweet bow tie of a mouth. Long, long hair, but not a color that attracted him in that way. She didn’t attract him in that way…except last night…for a brief moment… And now? He stood still and listened. His heart beat normally. Good. He was back in the saddle.
Beside Lia now, Dot frowned. In the center aisle, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings called out a greeting. To the right, Chelsea Chandler and Chloe looked up from behind the cash register.
Cal shut the door and ducked down the left aisle. Where was the toothpaste? He felt Dot’s eyes on him. Nuts, he’d have to send Tammy more flowers just for doing his job.
“Cal,” Chelsea sang out across the store, “need some help?”
“Uh, no,” he called back. “Thanks.”
He hated shopping. He especially hated shopping for personal hygiene products—and Lia’s store was all personal hygiene—where the entire town of Valley Oaks would know what brand of toothpaste he used in his bathroom.
He rotated his shoulders, shaking off the discomfort. It was prudent that he visit the scene of the crime, even if it meant revealing the contents of his bathroom.
He thought of Chelsea. He liked the kid…in recent years anyway, once she got into high school and behaved more like a regular person. To Cal, anyone younger than 15 was a foreigner to the human race.
Chelsea resembled her mother, almost a 60s-style hippie. Plain, broad but not unattractive faces, no makeup. They had long, wavy dark blonde hair worn often in braids. He glanced across the tops of the shelving units. Actually, her hair was orange today. Must be the Halloween season.
She was an artist, like her mom, and wore strange, flowing outfits. Some of the art students were troublemakers. He picked them up regularly for underage drinking. Never Chelsea, though. She seemed to prefer church activities. He hoped she wasn’t mixed up with the underside, but he’d have to ask around.
Cal found the toothpaste. It didn’t seem like much to spend. It didn’t add much support for a local business. He clenched his jaw and studied the dental floss selection.
What was it Lia had said last night about making ends meet? That hadn’t sounded promising.
He strolled around the corner. There were greeting cards. Shoot, it wouldn’t hurt to send his mom a card.
He noted four people hanging around the pharmacy counter, talking with each other and Dot as she made change for Hattie Miers. Lia intently studied the computer screen. The phone rang near her. She flinched, but didn’t reach for it. It rang again before she answered it. After a moment, her body visibly relaxed, and she pulled a pen from behind her ear.
The store was small. It wouldn’t be possible for someone to open the half door in the center of the pharmacy counter, go up one step and back to the drugs without rubbing shoulders with someone else.
He chose the first flowery card that said “Thinking of You” on its cover. Down the center aisle he spotted stationery. He could use a pen. At the end of that aisle he saw Brady’s books. Brady always gave him a copy. But if he bought one, it would support Brady and Lia. Instead of sending his copy to his mom, he could buy one for her. Stick the card in it. There were large padded envelopes located with the pens.
Chloe appeared before him, holding out a bright yellow plastic basket.
He blinked.
“For your stuff.”
“Oh.” He dumped his purchases in it, accepted the handle, then turned down the last aisle, pretending he didn’t feel as if he were carrying a purse.
Candy bars. Hmm…
He eventually made his way to the front register. Chloe took care of ringing things up while Chelsea bagged them and chatted. “Did you see the fall wreaths? They’re on sale. One of those would look great on your front door.”
“Wreath? No thanks.”
She nudged Chloe and rolled her eyes. “Bachelor.”
“So how’s junior year going?” he asked.
“Great. My favorite class is woodworking.”
“No kidding. Bet you’re the only girl in there.”
She laughed. “Yeah, actually that part’s kind of fun, too.”
“Staying out of trouble?”
“Of course. My mother would kill me otherwise.” It was her standard response, spoken in her customary open way. “How about yourself?”
“Just looking for it.” He paused, counting his money out for Chloe. “Know of any?”
“The usual, Cal. And you know as much as I do.”
“Sometimes.” He knew who drank. Which parents didn’t stop the parties. He knew who smoked and what they smoked. He had a lead on the current LSD supplier. He knew who was on probation, who was doing community service. But he didn’t know— “Morphine, Chelsea.”
She stared at him. “Don’t doctors use that stuff?”
“A high is a high.”
She shook her head. “My friends swear grass and beer is all they do. They know I’d kill them otherwise.”
“I’m not talking about your friends.”
She met his gaze. “I haven’t heard.”
“Keep your ear to the ground? This one involves theft and innocent people. Okay?”
She handed him his plastic shopping bag, concern erasing her smile. “Okay.”
The bell dinged again as he left. He felt ten pairs of eyes boring into his back. It reminded him to stop by the florist two doors down the street.
Cal drove into the vet’s parking lot. He parked his truck beside Gina’s car.
At the florist’s, he had gone a little hog wild. Bev was one intense saleswoman. It was fall, mums were on sale. He’d walked out with a mum for Tammy, of course. One for Lia, who definitely needed cheering up, but he’d probably keep it himself because he didn’t want it to look as though he was treating her any differently. Trouble was, he couldn’t figure out if he would have given her a mum before last night… One for Isabel, because she really was a great neighbor and her yard was full of flowers. And one for Gina.
Another bell jangled above a door. It was almost noon, closing time, and the waiting room was empty. He sat, feeling downright un-coplike holding the potted plant on his lap.
A few minutes later a collie appeared, followed by Dick Mackenzie and his kids, then Gina. After exchanging greetings, the family and dog left.
Gina turned to him. “Cal. Hi.”
He held out the plant. “You have to stick it in the ground. And then you have to stick around to see it come up next year.”
She blinked rapidly and bit her lip.
“Sorry.”
She took the plant. “It’s not your fault.”
“Well, I thought I’d put in my two cents.”
She pulled a tissue from her white lab coat. “All right.”
“He made a stupid mistake, but it’s the worst he’s done in 33 years. And it was out of character. The second dumbest thing he’s ever done was not telling you. He would never hurt you.”
“I know.”
“So you’ll stay?”
“If I don’t, will he stalk me?”
“No!”
“He did it once, Cal! In a sense, at any rate.”
He felt his face flush, but the confusion in her eyes froze the shout of protest on his tongue.
“He deeded his property to me! He gave up his most cherished possession. If I hadn’t moved to Valley Oaks, he would have followed me, leaving all his friends and family and moving halfway across the country just to be near me.”
Their eyes locked. The aftermath of her words melted something in Cal, and he sensed his cop glare soften. “Gina.” He paused, grasping for words to define his emotions. “Brady is like Jesus to me. Not that he’s perfect, but most of the time I can count on him being in tune with what’s right. There is only one reason he would give up his most cherished possession. It’s the same reason God gave up His most cherished possession.”
She swallowed. “Love.”
“Not just any love. It’s called agape. He did it because he thought it was best for you. You needed to take your job in Seattle. Yes, it gave him the vote on the zoning board to help preserve the neighboring property as open space, but he would have paid you rent for the rest of his life. He wanted you to have the freedom to choose where you lived, what you wanted to do, whether or not it included him. If it included him, nothing would tie him down back here.”
“He was going to visit. He never would have moved until you invited him. Nicole was toxic to him. Somewhere along the way in that relationship he took his eyes off God. He calls it his time in the desert. He went from being friendly and outgoing to majoring on being so caught up with her demands, he couldn’t see straight. He worked triple time to please her with money. He lost all common sense when she left because she never told him why. He took off after her because he needed an explanation.”
She stared at him, uncertainty still written in her creased forehead.
“Brady never stalked Nicole. After he got to California, it took him a while to track down where she was living. She traveled for her job; she didn’t have an office. He never called her. He went to her apartment one time and simply asked her why. She said she didn’t love him anymore. He told me that it was in that moment that he saw how blind he had been. Unfortunately, before it sank in, the boyfriend came to the door. Brady realized that they’d been living together for a while and…” Cal shrugged. “He slugged the guy. Your classic knight-in-shining-armor reaction. He got on a plane that night and came home.”
“But he was arrested.”
Cal hesitated. It was a black memory. He had to think it through, get to the end of it, to the fact that it had been the catalyst prompting Cal himself to put his faith in Christ. “I took the call from the Los Angeles police, then I went out to the house and arrested him.” He briefly closed his eyes.
“How awful!”
“You’re telling me. Anyway, we were just taking his prints when Nicole’s pitiful excuse for a conscience kicked in. She called and they worked it out. She dropped the charges, kept the ten-thou…” He stopped.
“Ten thousand? Ten thousand dollars?”
“Ugly ring. Bottom line, Gina, he loves you. I’ve never seen him so happy or clearheaded. He’s a better person with you. He wants what’s best for you and, if that means moving halfway across the country, so be it.”
She exhaled. “Cal, I do love him. That hasn’t changed. I just need to process the whole thing. Maybe we moved too quickly.” She eyed the diamond on her left hand.
Cal noticed it wasn’t quite as big as he remembered Nicole’s, but then Gina the practical vet and natural beauty would not have wanted or needed it so. “Okay. I’m sorry for intruding—”
“You’re no intrusion. You’re a part of Brady’s life. An integral part.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Part of the equation to life with Brady here. If I left…” Tears ran down her cheeks. She wiped at them and sniffled. “So,” her voice rose, forcing a perky note, “assuming this hurdle gets jumped, we should have dinner with you and Tammy.”
“Yeah. Well, take care. And call me if you want to know about any other stupid things he’s done, like how he blew the game against Orion.”
She smiled. “Okay. Thanks, Cal.”
Outside in the crisp football-season air, he felt sad. Tammy refused to have dinner with Brady and Gina. Brady had supposedly snubbed her at one time. Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t right that he wasn’t allowed to be with his best friend and his best friend’s fiancée. Talk about losing all common sense because of a woman! It wasn’t right that he felt guilty accepting a pie from Lia. Especially banana cream.
Something was going to have to give here.